Vientiane, Laos' national capital, mixes French-colonial architecture with Buddhist temples such as the golden, 16th-century Pha That Luang, which is a national symbol. Along broad boulevards and tree-lined streets are many notable shrines including Wat Si Saket, which features thousands of Buddha images, and Wat Si Muang, built atop a Hindu shrine.
Vientiane is a good place to chill out for travelers weary of the hectic pace of other Asian cities. The Laotian capital offers amazing Buddhist art, graceful temples, and lovely gardens. Situated on the Mekong River in southern Laos, the city still has remnants of its French heritage, a time when it was part of French Indochina.
Here are the Top 12 Places to Visit in Vientiane, which are worth visiting on a Vientiane trip:
1. Ho Pra Keo
This is also written in many different ways like Haw Phra Kaew or Hoe Pha Keo and others. This was formally a temple in Vientiane in Laos. It is located on the Setthathirath road which is further situated in the southeast of Wat Si Saket. This was first built in the year 1565 to create a house for the Buddha. This has however been built up many a time. The inner part has been converted into a museum which is famous for all the religious and other activities.
2. That Luang
This is one of the most sacred sites in this place. The stupa placed in this temple was established in the year 1566 when the capital was moved from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. This place is known to be built in the third century however the stupa is known to be placed in the year 1566 when the capital of Laos was changed to Vientiane due to the fear of Burmese invasion. This is one of the most sacred sites in this place. The stupa placed in this temple was established in the year 1566 when the capital was moved from Luang Prabang to Vientiane.
3. Wat Ong Theu
This temple was built in the 16th century however was destroyed in the year 1827. This was again restored and is now known to be an important center of Buddhist studies. This place is known to be one of the important places in Laos where studies related to the preaching of Buddha are done. This place was initially known to be built in the 16th century however was destroyed between the year 1827-1828. Later restored in the year 1929 this place since then is regarded as a place of national importance.
4. Patuxai Victory Monument
Patuxai Victory Monument is one of the best-known landmarks in Vientiane and was designed to resemble the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It is however also carved with symbols of Hindu Gods and has an additional five towers which resemble traditional Laotian buildings making this something of an East meets West kind of attraction.
5. Xieng Khuan
Xieng Khuan is also known as Buddha Park and is some 25 kilometers outside Vientiane. As you would guess from the name, is known for having more than 200 religious statues which are scattered all over the lush grounds. The piece de resistance here is a sculpture of a reclining Buddha which is some 40 meters high the park was the brainchild of a monk who designed the area in 1958 and who was interested in both Hindu and Buddhist sculpture, which is why you will find a mix of different influences here. As you walk around make sure to look out for the sculpture of Indra who is atop a three-headed elephant and who is considered to be the king of the gods in Hinduism.
6. Wat Ho Phra Kaew
Vientiane boasts several beautiful temples or wats, but one of the most impressive and interesting of them is Wat Ho Phra Keo. It was originally constructed in 1565 as the Lao royal family’s personal chapel, and as a home for the Emerald Buddha after it was snatched from northern Siam (Thailand). This sacred jade statue was reclaimed by the Siamese in 1778 and now sits in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. The interior of the temple is now a museum that houses many Lao treasures such as a gilded throne, Khmer Buddhist stone tablets, wooden carvings, bronze frog drums, and palm-leaf manuscripts.
7. Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng (additionally Vang Viang) is a riverside town in Central Laos. The town hosts have been known as a get-together destination for quite a long time, and whilst regardless of these remaining parts more open-air situated exercises are currently accessible, for example, mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, giving in, swimming, and shake climbing. Vang Vieng is on Highway #13 in the middle of Vientiane and Luang Prabang - by transport (street and transport conditions allowing) around 6-8 hrs from Luang Prabang, and around 3-4 hr from Vientiane.
8. Pha That Luang
The air-conditioned shopping mall (the only one in Laos) is the best place to find electronics, sports equipment, and jewelry, while the cavernous original Morning Market is fairly overflowing with mass-produced silks, cheap T-shirts, trinkets, and other souvenir-type items. Talat Sao is the market to visit if you are looking for something in particular – although bear in mind that the catwalks of Paris and Milan are a long way from Vientiane.
9. Lao Textile Museum
This museum located in the city of Lao is one of the foremost places where exquisite textiles are displayed to visitors. This museum houses some of the antique textiles or some of the antique machines used in the older days. You would find some stunning artifacts present in this place and beneath this building are some machines never seen before. The cupboards are known to house items that were manufactured by the minorities of those times.
10. Wat Si Saket
Wat Si Saket is a Vientiane temple that is famous for a wall that contains hundreds of seated Buddhists sitting before thousands of tiny images in soft triangular-shaped openings in the wall. The 6,800 images are made from wood, stone, and bronze. This amazing collection of Buddhist art dates from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Savvy travelers will visit the temple early in the morning for colorful Buddhist services. The oldest Buddhist monastery in Laos, Wat Si Sake sports a graceful architectural style that is enhanced with verandas and a five-tiered roof.
11. Wat Si Muang
Wat Si Muang is one of the most popular temples in Vientiane and is a great place to visit if you want to see some of the finest Laotian Buddhist design work in the country. The temple takes it name from Si Muang who, local legend has it, was a young Laotian woman who sacrificed herself to please the local gods and allow for the building to be erected some 400 years ago. The design features of the temple are truly stunning and you will also be able to watch long streams of pilgrims here worshipping at the temple.
12. Vientiane Riverfront
When the workday is over in Vientiane, locals head to the riverfront, which teems with a smorgasbord of activities. Located on the Mekong River that separates Vientiane from Thailand, visitors will find a colorful night market, lined with stalls selling daily necessities and food to snack on while walking the promenade. Travelers also may want to relax at a bar with a Beerlao while watching the sunset or fishermen at work. They’ll also find kids playing soccer and elders doing their nightly exercises. It’s the happening place in Vientiane.
Besides this, there is much more to explore in Vientiane!!!
